1/20/2009 @ 9:10PM

Metadata: World's Biggest Data Breach

BURLINGAME, Calif.–Talk about a credit crisis:
Heartland Payment Systems
, a credit card payment processing firm, may have been the victim of the largest data breach to date.

The Princeton, N.J.-based firm said Tuesday that it discovered malicious software in its systems that compromised the security of the data traversing its network. It’s unclear what data may have been tampered with or stolen, but Heartland said no merchant data, cardholder Social Security numbers, unencrypted PIN numbers, addresses or telephone numbers “were involved in the breach.”

Heartland told The Washington Post that it processes 100 million credit and debit card transactions per month. This volume led analysts to surmise that the company’s breach could be the world’s biggest to date.

“This is likely the largest breach we’ve had,” says Gartner analyst Avivah Litan. “And it’s at a payment processor. Processors are so much closer to the nerve center.”

Heartland said it will implement a new system that can “flag network anomalies in real time and enable law enforcement to expeditiously apprehend cybercriminals.”

The company also advised consumers to examine their monthly statements closely. Federal law limits consumer liability for credit cards to $50 and ATM cards to between $50 and $500.